Qualifications and transmission of teaching
The Pastoral Epistles connect appointment, tested character, guarding the deposit, and teaching faithful people who can teach others. Christians differ on how directly these letters establish later episcopal succession.
Scripture
- 1 Timothy 3:1-13 — Qualifications for overseers and deacons.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 — Entrust received teaching to reliable people able to teach others.
- 1 Timothy 4:14 — Timothy's gift is associated with the laying on of hands of the presbytery.
Primary sources
The letter instructs Timothy:
Second Timothy describes received teaching being entrusted to faithful people able to teach others.
The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Passage context and translation
The instruction follows the call to be strengthened in Christ's grace and is followed by images of the soldier, athlete, and farmer.
Before the excerpt
You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
After the excerpt
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.